स्नायुशास्त्र

Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Physicians specializing in the field of neurology are called neurologists र are trained to diagnose, treat, र manage patients with neurological disorders. Most neurologists are trained to treat र diagnose adults. Pediatric neurologists, nearly always a subspecialty of pediatrics, treat neurological disease in children. Neurologists are also involved in clinical research, clinical trials, as well as basic research र translational research.

Neurologists are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, र management of all the above conditions. When surgical intervention is required, the neurologist may refer the patient to a neurosurgeon, an interventional neuroradiologist, or a neurointerventionalist. In some countries, additional legal responsibilities of a neurologist may include making a finding of brain death when it is suspected that a patient is deceased. Neurologists frequently care for people with hereditary (genetic) diseases when the major manifestations are neurological, as is frequently the case. Lumbar punctures are frequently performed by neurologists. Other neurologists may develop an interest in particular subfields, such as movement disorders, headaches, epilepsy, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis or neuromuscular diseases.

The core neurological diseases that are the primary domain of neurologists are:

Although many mental illnesses are believed to be neurological disorders affecting the central nervous system, traditionally they are classified separately, र treated by psychiatrists. In a २००२ review article in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Professor Joseph B. Martin, Dean of Harvard Medical School र a neurologist by training, wrote that 'the separation of the two categories is arbitrary, often influenced by beliefs rather than proven scientific observations. And the fact that the brain र mind are one makes the separation artificial anyway.' (Martin JB. The integration of neurology, psychiatry र neuroscience in the २१st century. Am J Psychiatry २००२; १५९:६९५-७०४)